Getafe vs. Real Madrid: Score, Reaction from 2016 La Liga Match

Real Madrid moved to just one point behind Barcelona in La Liga after they dispatched Getafe 5-1 at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Saturday.

Karim Benzema and Isco netted in a strong first-half performance from the visitors, and Gareth Bale added a third shortly after the break. Pablo Sarabia added a consolation late on before James Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo rounded out the scoring.

Real dominated for much of the match, though with little impetus to keep scoring and a number of substitutions made in the second half, they created relatively few chances in the later stages of the match despite bagging two goals.

The visitors began the brighter, and it was Rodriguez who had the first sight of goal just minutes into the match, but Vicente Guaita was equal to his effort from the edge of the area and tipped it round the post comfortably.

Alvaro Pereira was an early casualty and limped off just eight minutes in, and his replacement Karim Yoda made an instant impact as he made a last-gasp challenge to deny Ronaldo six yards out after he'd been picked out by Rodriguez.

GERARD JULIEN/Getty Images

Soon after Ronaldo rattled the woodwork when he struck the base of the post from distance as Los Blancos exerted further pressure. The Guardian's Sid Lowe noted their impressive early showing and highlighted Pedro Leon as one of Getafe's better performers:

So too did journalist Dermot Corrigan, as the home side looked to have weathered the early storm, and the Spaniard looked to get forward whenever possible:

However, Los Merengues were rewarded for their strong start with a goal after 29 minutes when Rodriguez floated a ball over Getafe's defence to Benzema, and with all the time in the world, the Frenchman coolly swept the ball in from close range, per Real Madrid:

The goal was a milestone for the striker, as it was his 22nd league goal of the campaign—his highest ever total, according to Squawka.

Ronaldo almost doubled the lead immediately after, but his low effort was well stopped by Guaita. Real were nevertheless able to add to their tally before half-time, though, and did so in style as Isco played a neat one-two with Benzema before applying an excellent finish with the outside of his foot, per Real Madrid:

Corrigan noted the contrast in performance between the two sides at the break:

Real started the second half in much the same fashion as they'd ended the first, and Bale made it 3-0 just five minutes in when he raced on to a magnificent ball over the top from Benzema on the right and tucked the ball into the far bottom corner.

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

With the result sewn up, Zinedine Zidane began to ring the changes and brought the Welshman off for Lucas Vazquez and replaced Benzema with Jese Rodriguez—as Corrigan noted, Los Blancos have several key fixtures coming up:

The wave of substitutions hindered the visitors' attacking rhythm somewhat, and Getafe were able to venture out of their own half. In a rare attack, they were able to force a save from Keylor Navas when the ball fell for Pablo Sarabia in the area.

Navas almost gifted the Azulones a goal when he picked up Marcelo's pass-back to hand the home side an indirect free-kick from close range, but as Lowe demonstrated, the stopper atoned for his error:

He could do nothing about Getafe's goal in the 84th minute, though, as Sarabia strode forward and lashed a dipping effort into the top corner from outside the area.

There would be no hope of a late comeback, however, as four minutes later Rodriguez picked up a neat pull-back from Vazquez and calmly sold a defender a dummy before slotting home.

Ronaldo had his goal in injury time, tapping in from Jese's cross.

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

Real have firmly capitalised on Barcelona's struggles and piled the pressure on both the Blaugrana and Atletico Madrid with their comfortable win here.

As for Getafe, they remain rooted to the foot of the table with just five games remaining. Their only saving grace is that four of their remaining fixtures are against sides in the bottom half of the table, but even so, they'll need a dramatic turnaround if they're to survive.

Post-Match Reaction

According to Corrigan, Zidane was delighted with his side's performance and insisted they would be concentrating on their own matches rather than their rivals':

Per Corrigan, on his decision to keep Ronaldo on the pitch for the duration of the game, he added: "Today we gave a rest to Gareth and Karim. We will see what happens a later [sic]. Cristiano has been playing well."